A second Liberia-flagged vessel transiting the Red Sea was attacked today, with two crew members missing and two injured in the latest incident, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.
The dry bulk carrier, which has not yet been named, was adrift off the coast of Hodeidah, Yemen, following the attack.
Yemen-based Houthi militants earlier Monday claimed responsibility for a 6 July attack on the Liberia-flagged Magic Seas dry bulk carrier approximately 62 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, a Houthi-controlled part of Yemen. The vessel began taking on water and was subsequently abandoned by its crew.
While Houthi rebels have not yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack, Ambrey reports the attack meets the "established Houthi target profile as the listed beneficial owner appears on open-source platforms to have called Israel".
The vessel attacked on 7 July was transiting the Red Sea north bound in when it was approached by two skiffs and unmanned aerial vehicles, with the vessel's armed security team returning fire, Ambrey reported. The vessel's engine has been disabled and it has started to drift, according to Ambrey.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations has advised vessels to transit the area with caution. Ambrey recommended vessels reduce deck crew movements and bridge manning to a minimum while operating in the vicinity.
Israeli fighter jets struck Houthi-controlled infrastructure in Yemen overnight, targeting ports and a power plant used in the group's military operations, the Israel Defense Forces said Monday.
